Lagos kicks off ReadySetWork 2018, launches RSW faculty

The Lagos State Government has kicked off the third edition of the ReadySetWork, RSW training programme with the launch of the RSW Faculty on Thursday.

Speaking at a press conference held in Victoria Island, Lagos, Southwest Nigeria, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Education, Mr. Obafela Bank-Olemoh, affirmed the unwavering commitment of the administration of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode to the RSW programme.

“What we are doing here is the official launch of The ReadySetWork Faculty, we are building the largest volunteer faculty in Nigeria. Since the inception of the programme, we have engaged volunteers, who are professionals from various sectors of the economy to train and mentor the students in the 13-week training programme.

“Last year, we engaged over 118 professionals who committed their time, resources and expertise to impact the lives of the students. With a target of training 5,000 students in 2018, we need to scale up the faculty pool,” he said.

Bank-Olemoh also disclosed that RSW 2018 had been expanded.

“This year, we are scaling up the programme to accommodate 25,000 students instead of 12,000 that were trained in 2017. 5,000 final year students will participate in the 13-week class-based training, while 20,000 students in their penultimate year will take part in the RSW Online Academy.

“We are also increasing the number of participating schools this year. The new institutions are Yaba College of Technology, Federal College of Education (Technical) and a private institution, Caleb University,” he stated.

The Special Adviser said that the inclusion of the new schools was in line with Ambode’s commitment to ensuring that every student who graduated from any tertiary institution in Lagos State was prepared for the world of work as an employer of labour or a value-adding employee.

Members of the Faculty present at the launch also poured accolades on the Ambode administration for the laudable intervention, and committed their support for the programme.

Those present included the Special Adviser to Governor on Overseas Affairs and Investment, Prof. Ademola Abass; a Partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers, Mr. Pedro Omontuemhen and the MD/CEO, Seimens Nigeria, Mrs. Onyeche Tifase; Divisional Head, Corporate Service Division, Felicia Obozuwa and the heads of participating tertiary institutions.

Addressing the audience, Mrs. Tifase, MD/CEO, Siemens Nigeria said, “The world is global. When you’re not doing well, someone elsewhere is doing better. RSW gives me hope. I think this programme is groundbreaking.”

The Vice Chancellor, Lagos State University, LASU, Prof. Olanrewaju Fagbohun commended the organisation of the RSW programme.

“Speaking as the head of a tertiary institution privileged to participate in the programme, I can attest to the fact that the mindset of our students has been transformed,” he said.

Mr. Bank-Olemoh then called on professionals from different sectors to join the RSW Faculty as volunteer facilitators for the 2018 training programme.

He said that the RSW Faculty recruitment had officially kicked off, and invited interested applicants to register on the programme’s website – www.readysetwork.com.ng.